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Difficulty: Moderate

8 hours over two days

275

Introduction

Ready for a cold one? Not so fast. It will taste even better after you build this beauty for your deck or patio. We sized it around an off-the-shelf 50-quart plastic cooler. Made of cedar, the box features a brass spigot to take the heavy lifting out of draining melted ice, a stainless-steel continuous hinge for the lid, and a classic bottle opener right out front, sparing you that frantic hunt for a way to open your frosty beverage. Follow along as This Old House contributor Christopher Beidel, owner of Pernt, a handmade-furniture company in Brooklyn, New York, walks you through the simple step-by-step process of making your own classic cooler.